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How To Protect Your Florida Criminal Case After An Arrest

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After getting arrested, the situation can get stressful, overwhelming, and confusing. Because of the stress and confusion, many arrestees do things that end up hurting their cases. Unfortunately, many arrestees make mistakes without even realizing they are making mistakes. If you have been arrested, you need to remember that your actions can significantly impact the outcome of your case. You need to be careful not to make mistakes that harm your interests, regardless of how you feel. Below, we share some tips on how to protect your Florida criminal case after an arrest.

Assert Your Right to Legal Representation

The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution gives criminal defendants the right to an attorney. After an arrest, you should assert your right to an attorney and get an attorney immediately. An attorney can provide you with legal guidance. Also, an attorney can help you through interrogations.

Assert Your Right To Remain Silent

You should also assert your right to remain silent after an arrest. It might be tempting to tell your side of the story to the police, especially if you are innocent, but it is in your best interest not to do so. The things you say to the police can be used against you. Apart from over-explaining yourself, you should avoid answering police questions without your attorney present.

Avoid Social Media

Law enforcement can use incriminating direct messages, photos, posts, videos, or even comments they get on your social media as evidence against you in court. Also, what other people post about you could be used as evidence against you. So it is best to avoid social media while your criminal case is pending.

Avoid Contacting Your Accuser

You might be tempted to contact the person who accused you of committing a crime. Reaching out to an accuser is never wise. Even if you are facing false allegations, reaching out to the accuser will only do more harm than good. You should also avoid contacting any other witnesses. If you reach out to the accuser or another witness, you could face additional charges, such as tampering with a witness.

Do Not Destroy Evidence

Do not delete social media posts, texts, or emails or throw away things you think might be used as evidence against you. Destroying evidence is a crime. Also, in most cases, law enforcement can retrieve destroyed evidence.

Gather Evidence

Instead of destroying evidence you think can be used against you, you should work with your attorney to gather evidence to help build your case. Identify witnesses or other evidence and discuss with your attorney immediately.

Be Honest With Your Attorney

The attorney-client privilege rule forbids your criminal defense attorney from divulging the information you share with them to other people. So you should communicate honestly with your attorney. If you are not honest with your defense attorney, they cannot represent you effectively.

Avoid Skipping Court

Finally, ensure you attend all required court hearings, as failure to do so can have serious consequences. For example, if you miss court hearings, the prosecutor may be less inclined to offer a plea bargain. And if the prosecutor offers a plea bargain, the judge may disagree.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Attorney

If you’ve been arrested in Florida, do not handle your case alone. Contact our skilled and dedicated Fort Lauderdale criminal attorneys at Joyce A. Julian, P.A., to get the legal guidance and representation you need.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0900-0999/0914/Sections/0914.22.html

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